Pneumatic ammunition-conveying apparatus.



J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED IUIIE 30.1913.

1,148,082. Patented July 27, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

LOW

PREL/RE BLOWER NVENTOR.

fnlr A TTORNEY.

.|. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30.1913. 1,148,082. Patented July 27, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION CONVEYING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE ao, 1913.

1,148,082. Patented July 27, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

il.) ATTORNEY.

1. T. Cown-N. I

PNEUMATIC AMIVIUNITION CONVEYING SYSTEM. I

APPLICATION FILED .IUNE 30, |913.

1,148,082. Patented July 27, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

V/TNESSES: IVVENTOR.

t? www J My m BY VQQ/Ldk-l 15:1: ATTORNEY.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFCE.

JAMES T. COWLEY, OF SCITUATE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON COM-PANY, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATIC AMMUNITION-CONVEYING SYSTEM.

Application filed June 30, 1913.

T0 all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES T. CowLEY, 'a citizen of the United States,residing at Scituate, in the -county of Plymouth and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPneumatic Ammunition-'Conveying Systems, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a pneumatic ammunition `conveying system ofthat class used for conveying bot-h a projectile and powder or the likefrom the handling-room of a magazine to the guns, preferably through asingle tube. Systems of this character comprise a tube or conduitthrough which the charge is pneumatically propelled from 'thehandling-room to a point near the guns to be served; the tube beingprovided with a sending terminal at the magazine or handling-room endthereof, and having a delivery terminal preferably at its outer eX-tremity adjacent to the broadside or other guns to which the charge isto be delivered; the system also having means for admitting compressedair to vthe sending terminal behind the gcharge to Ibe conveyed.

The invention herein described relates more particularly to certainimprovements in a system of this character whereby not only may a chargebe expeditiously and safely despatched from the magazine, but furtherthe removal thereof from the conveying apparatus by the operativesstationed at the delivery terminal Iis facilitated.

A further object of the invention is to control the progress of thecharge during its advance through the tube, whereby to insure greatersafety in handling the explosive materials conveyed and reduce injuriousstresses, imposed upon the conveying apparatus while ythe charge is -intransit, substantially to a minimum.

It is further aimed herein to automatically separate the shells orprojectiles from the cases containing the powder, or other explosivematerial, at the delivery terminal by means of such a simple andeffective construction that the likelihood of the system becomingderanged at this point, as may happen when a considerable number ofmovable elements are involved in the separating means, is practicallyeliminated.

A further object vof the invention is to so construct `the deliveryterminal that suc- Specficaton of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

Serial No. 776,500.

ceeding charges may follow each other through the tube relativelyclosely, this terminal having provisions whereby the powder case, forexample, of a preceding charge 1s automatically removed from the path ofthe 'shell and `case of a succeeding charge. In like manner the shellsare brought to rest 1n positions where they, like the powder cases, maybe most easily removed from the apparatus, while at the same time apreviously delivered shell automatically so D'ositions itself as not tobe subject to injury by a succeeding shell, or vice versa.

These and other objects of my invention will be hereinafter more fullyset forth and the novel elements and combinations of elements wherebysaid Iobjects may be attained will be more particularly pointed out inthe claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings I have exemplified a preferred system ofthe type in question, together with a modification of the deliveryterminal which, in certain cases, may be -used in lieu of the deliveryterminal shown in the general assembly.

I am aware, however, -that lmany other changes and modifications may bemade in the system without departing from the spirit of my invention,and I hence desire to be limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the several vfigures like characters of reference designate likeparts.

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is a somewhat Idiagrammaticrepresentation of the preferredsystem, viewed in elevation. Fig. 2 is adetail vertical section of the despatching valve shown adjacent theterminal in the lower part of Fi g. l; the section being taken in theplane of the paper. Fig. 3 is a detail 'transverse section taken on lineIII-III of Fig. l. Fig. @t is a similar section'taken on line IV-IV ofFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation, partly in section, of thedespatching terminal; pipe connections being herein shown which forconvenience of illustration have been omitted from Fig. l. Fig. 6 is atransverse vertical section of the terminal shown in Fig. 5; the sectionbeing taken on line VI-VI. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, butshowing the terminal cover in its closed position. Fig. 8 is a detailsection taken on line VIII--VIII of Fig. Fig. 9 is a detail verticaltransverse section taken on line IX-IX of Fig. 5. 11o

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the delivery terminal shown in Fig. 1, drawnto an enlarged scale. Fig. 11 is a plan view of said delivery terminal;a portion of the frame of the latter being broken away. Fig. 12 is avertical transverse section of said terminal taken on line XII-XII ofFig. 11. Fig. 13 is an elevation ofa modified form of the deliveryterminal. Fig. 14 is a plan of the same, and Fig. 15 is a transversesection taken on line XV-XV of Fig. 13.

The sending terminal has been broadly designated A and the transmissiontube B leads therefrom to the delivery terminal C, the latter beingpreferably unprovided with a cover while the former has hinged at 14-1to the body or casing 2 thereof, a cover 3. This casing is extendedforwardly to provide a slightly concaved shelf 4 upon which the charge,consisting of the shell D and a powder case E together with the pistonor pusher F, may be laid, preparatory to inserting it into the terminal.Suitably journaled above the casing 2 is a rock-shaft 5 which carries atone end an arm 6 and at the other a triangular member 7; a pair of links8 respectively connecting the extremities of members 6 and 7 to thecover so that a pair of toggles are provided, adapted when therespective joints thereof are in aline- -ment to hold the cover firmlyclosed. Links 9 connect the third corner of the member 7 with thedepending rod of a piston 10, reciprocably mounted in a cylinder 11,supported from a hollow upright 12 disposed at the forward end ofterminal A. A high pressure supply pipe 13 is connected by pipes 14 and15, and port 16 in the wall of the cylinder 11, with the space .in thelatter below the piston when the latter is in its upper position,whereby the cover 3 is normally held open. The rear end of the terminalis closed by a suitable cap 17, an extension 18 of which supports theouter end of the shaft 5, and the forward end is normally closed by agate-valve 19 which rides in grooves 20 in the upright 12. Valve 19 ispneumatically operated through the intermediacy of a piston 21 disposedin a cylinder 22 also 'carried by said upright; the chamber in thecylinder above the piston 21 being normally in communication with pipe13 through a'pipe 23 and chamber 24 in the casing 25 of the despatchingvalve 26. The latter is preferably cupped to receive a spring 27 whichtends to hold it in -its lower position in which pipes 13 and 23 are infree communicatiombut in which position also communication between pipe13 and a pipe 28, leading to the upper end of cylinder 11, is cut off. Avalve stem 29 extends upwardly from valve 26 through the cap 30 ofcasing 25, and to this cap is pivoted an operating lever 31 having aslotted connection with a head 32, pinned to the upper end of said stem29. The lower end of this valve stem is preferably enlarged and extendsdownwardly as shown in Fig. 2; a groove 33 immediately below the valvebeing adapted for the reception of aplocking-pin 34 when the valve is inits lower position, while the lower extremity of the stemcorrespondingly may rest upon this pin when the valve is insubstantially its uppermost position and when said pin is projectedagainst the action of its spring 35 into the path of the valve stem, inthe manner hereinafter described. Mounted upon a shaft 36 journaled inthe casing 37 which supports the valve and locking-pin parts, is a latch38, the free end of which is also adapted to be moved in, by a spring39, under the lower extremity of the valve stem 29 when the valve is inits upper position; and a trip arm 40, keyed to this shaft projects downthrough a slot 41 in the tube B, when the latch is so disposed; asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. r1he rear end of spring 39 isaffixed to a pivoted stop 42, which, when the stem 29 is located in itslower position, is pressed down by said stem against the action of thespring 39, while, when the stem is raised the free end of this stopengages latch 38 immediately below its in-bent free end and limits theinward movement of said latch.

Assuming now that a `charge has been placed within the body of thesending terminal, the pointed end of the shell D being nearest thetransmission tube, the powder case E being directly behind the shell andthe pusher F being to the rear of the powder case (the relativepositions of these articles being shown in the portion of the tubebroken away in Fig. 1). The lever is now thrown to the right, raisingvalve 26 and thereby closing communication between the pipe 13 and thespace above the piston 21, while also exhausting the air in said spacethrough the port 43 below said valve. Simultaneously air under pressureflows through pipe 2S into the recess 44 in the upper end of cylinder 11and thence flows past the check valve 45 in the piston head; more thancounterbalancing the pressure upon the under side of said piston sincethe air there* beneath, and any which enters through port 16, escapesthrough port 46 in the lower extremity of the cylinder and thencethrough a pipe 47 to the space above piston 21, which, as previouslynoted, is at such time in communication with the atmosphere via port 43.The descent of piston 10 closes and ultimately toggle-locks the cover 3;but the fall of the cover is checked by the cushion formed 'by the airtrapped below this piston after it closes the port 46 by its passagethereover. /Vhen piston 10 has reached substantially its lowermostposition, so that the cover is held securely closed, it uncovers ports16, permitting the air entering cylinder 11 through pipe 28 to passthence through pipe 15 to .a recess 48 in the bottom of cylinder 22 andpast a check valve 49 into the space below piston 21; elevating thelatter and thereby lifting the gate-valve 19.

The upright 12 is hollow and the conduit 50 therein receives air from alow pressure supply pipe 51; which conduit is at all times incommunication with the tube B, through which a current of air normallyalways Hows in the direction indicated by the full line arrows.

The casing 52 which closes the forward side of conduit 50 near its lowerend is shaped as shown in Figs. 5 and 9 to provide pockets 52", and thebase of the upright 12 is cored out to form a U shaped channel 51 aroundthe central circular opening 53 through which the charge emerges whengate-valve 19 is raised. Apertures 53 in the respective front side wallsof the channel 51 provide for communication between conduit 50 and saidchannel; but air can only flow through these openings when thegate-valve 19 has been raised sufficiently to uncover openings 53';laterally disposed ports 54 being provided in valve 19 for this purpose.

The low pressure air then flows through channel 51 and the conduit orduct 55 into the cavity 56 in the cap 17, and from thence into theterminal chamber to the rear of the charge, transmitting member orpiston F; driving the latter together with the charge in front of itpast the now fully opened valve 19 and into the tube B, toward thedelivery terminal.

It may be here noted that the valve 26 had meanwhile been held inposition to eff'ectthe actions above described by the inward movement ofthe latch or dog 38, the moment that the valve stem was elevatedsufficiently to clear this member. Correspondingly the trip arm or lever40 had been, at such time, rocked down some distance into thetransmission tube.

The shell D is of relatively small diameter and reposes upon the bottomof the tube so that the top thereof clears this lever 40 by aconsiderable distance when driven forward through the tube. The powdercase E, is also of smaller diameter than the inside of the tube andcorrespondingly clears lever 40. Piston F is, however, of substantiallythe same diameter as the inside of the tube and when it encounters lever40, it raises the latter and thereby frees valve stem 29, which isimmediately driven down by spring 27, closing port 43, opening pipe 2Sagain to the atmosphere; air escaping from the upper end of cylinder' 11through this pipeand a port 57 in cap 30; while live air is againadmitted to the upper end of cylinder 22 through pipe 23.

The air entering the lower part of cylinder 11 through pipe 15 can nolonger escape and raises piston 10, breaking the toggles which lockcover 3 closed, and raising said cover preparatory to the insertion of asecond charge.

In pipes 13, 14, 23, 2S and 47 are throttle valves 58, 59, 60, 61, (32and 63 which serve to regulate the flow of air to the several parts tobe actuated. Around the throttle 62, however, in pipe 28, is a by-pass64 in which is a check valve G5, so that valve 62 does not oppose thefree upward movement of piston 10 but does affect the speed of itsdownward or cover closing movement. As the cover is raised the piston 21descends, closing the gate-valve 19; air being first admitted to theupper side of this piston past a check valve 65 while the air below thepiston is driven back into the high pressure` line by the weight of saidpiston and valve 19.

It will be observed that piston 21 is cushioned by air trappedtherebeneath when nearly at the end of its downward movement; portsthrough which the air below this piston escapes to pipes 15, 14 and 13,being located somewhat above the bottom of the piston when in itslowermost position, like the port 46 in cylinder 11.

In both cylinder 11 and cylinder 21, provision is made for insuring anadequate cushion of air below the respective pistons to check theirdownward movement. -To this end cylinder 22 has a port 67 therein,preferably above the level of the port 68 which opens into pipe 47; anda conduit leads from this port 67 to a recess in which is disposed aspring pressed check valve 69. When the piston 21 has descended just farenough to uncover port G7, the compressed air above the piston raisesvalve 69 and passing thence through port 70, temporarily equalizes thepressure upon the respective sides of the piston. Immediately afterthis, however, the piston covers port 70 and the air trapped below saidpiston, being already under considerable pressure, serves as aneffective cushioning medium. 1n like manner cylinder 11 is provided witha port 67', valve 69 and port 70 which co-act with piston 10 to effect alike result. 1n both of these cylinders, also, air is admitted inaugmented quantity as the respective pistons are being raised. Forexample, in cylinder 11, air first raises check valve 6G and thereiafter is more freely admitted when the piston successively uncoversports 4G and 16.

Similarly when piston 21 is being raised, valve 49 first opens andthereafter the piston successively uncovers ports G8 and GS andreversely covers these ports, aiding in cushioning piston 21 when thelatter descends.

As shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the gate valve 19 is slotted at 71, partlyfor the purpose of clearing the boss in which valve-69 vis disposed andpartly to afford a free passage of air from conduit 50 into the tube, atall times. It has further been found desirable, however, to provide aby-pass 72 in order to insure an adequate flow of air through tube B topropel a preceding charge while a succeeding charge is being despatched,and a throttle 73 in a diaphragm 74 located'inthis by-pass permits ofthe adjustment of this flow of air to anicety.

The trip actuated lock for the operating valve 26 providesl means forinsuring the proper despatch of a charge from the despatching terminalbefore any further operation of the controlling or operating valve canbe effected; so that after the cover has once been closed and thegate-valve opened, no change inthe position of these parts can occuruntil the trip is engaged by the piston or pusher of the charge beingdespatched, and both the projectile, or shell, and its powder case,which together constitute the charge proper, must obviously always bewell within the tube before the pusher therebehind actuates the trip. ltis hence practically impossible to inadvertently close the gate-valveupon, let us say, the case of powder or other explosive material, whichaction might result disastrously. In addition, however, it has also beenfound desirable to insure a proper spacing of charges in transit withoutundue loss of time, as is the case whereone charge must be delivered tothe receiving terminal before a second can be despatched. The means bywhich charges may be spaced apart while yet permitting a plurality ofcharges to be in course of transit simultaneously through the transVmission tube will accordingly now be described.

The locking-pin 34, above referred to, has mounted upon the forward orouter eXtremity thereof a piston 74 lwhich is reciprocable in acylindrical pocket 75 in the casting 7 6 within which rides said pin 34.The spring 35 normally holds this piston and pin in their outermostpositions; the pin being then clear of stem 29. The cylinder 7 5 has ahead or cap 78 to which is attached a pipe 79 which leads into tube B ashort distance beyond the trip casing 37. A second pipe 80, connectskthe inner end of cylinder 75 with a point 8l in the tube relativelyremote from the despatching terminal.

When the air iiows freely through the tube the pressure therein is notsuiicient to overcome the spring 35, but when a charge is beingpropelled from terminal A, as soon as its piston clears the mouth ofpipe 79, .air under pressure sufhcient to compress spring 35 enters thechamber 82 ,within cap 78 and drives piston 74 together with pin 34inwardly, which enters the point of the pin into groove 33; stem 29being at such time in its lower position. Thereafter, until the piston Fof the charge has passed the point 8l, the operating lever31 cannot bemoved so that the cover 3 must remain open, preventing the despatch of asucceeding charge for a substantially determined interval of time. When,however, the first charge with its piston has passed this point, airunder pressure is admitted to pipe 8O and counterbalances the pressurein chamber 82, enabling spring 35 to retract the pin and free thedespatching valve. lf, by. any chance, immediately after the instantthat the piston of a first charge operates the trip lever 40 releasingvalve 26, said valve should be raised before the piston uncovers themouth of pipe 79, then when pin 34 isdriven in by its piston 74, inmanner aforesaid, it will latch up the valve stem by engaging the lowerend thereof; holding valve 26 in position to maintain the cover closeduntil the charge passes point 8l inthe tube, after which the locking pinis automatically withdrawn, valve 26 descends and the cover 3 againopens.

Itis frequently necessary to provide relatively sharp bends in thetransmission tube and to avoid unnecessary wear and tear upon' theapparatus means have been provided in such cases for reducing the speedof the charge as it approaches and while it traverses the bend. In theeXemplification shown in Fig.' I a `connection 83 consisting of a pairof clamping members or straps connected together by bolts, as shown inFig. 3, is affixed to the tube B some distance below the bend 83 thereinand a correspond` ing structure is mounted upon the tube immediatelybeyond this bend. The tube is perforated as at 34 at each of thesepoints and one lof the straps is recessed as at 85 to aifordcommunication between a pipe 86, which is connected to this element, andthe tube B, through these perforations.

Pipe 86 virtually forms a by-pass around the bend 83 whereby a certainamount of the air, to the rear of the piston propelling a charge up thetube, is able to escape around back into the tube ahead of the charge;thus materially reducing the propulsive effort exerted upon said piston.lt isv advisable to provide a throttle valve 87 or the like in thisbypass 86 so as to provide means for adjusting the speed ofthe chargewhen passing around the bend.k As the charge approaches the deliveryterminal C it is also desirable to again check the. speed thereof sothat it may not enter the delivery terminal under too great momenf tum.To this end valve casings 83, of which any suitable number may beprovided, are inserted in, or adjacent to, the bend 89 in the upperportion of the pipe. As shown in Fig. 4 these valves consist of tubularsections provided with flanges 90 to which the iianges of the adjacentpipe sections may be 'The opening 91 in the side of each of thesesections is normally closed by a valve 93 which is held upon its seat bymeans of a suitable compression spring 94; the outer extremity of thisspring bearing against the hub of a spider at the mouth of the aperture91; and the other extremity of said spring bearing against the head of abolt 96 which extends outwardly through the spider and valve. Outwardmovement of this valve may be adj ustably limited by means of aset-screw 9? mounted in a yoke 98 attached to the outer side of theflange of the spider.

@bviously the spring 94 may be given any desired tension by screwingdown the nut of the bolt 96 and in practice it is desirable to have thespring of the valve 88, which is first encountered by a charge, undergreater compression than that of the subsequently encountered valve; sothat when passing the lower or first of these valves the air behind thepusher or piston of a given charge escapes only to a moderate extent;but immediately thereafter, as the piston passes over the grating 92 ofthe second valve, a much larger proportion of the compressed air escapesto the atmosphere; the charge hence being delivered smoothly andcomparatively gently to the delivery terminal.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 10, 11 and 12, the preferreddelivery terminal consists substantially of but a single member whichcomprises a semi-tubular portion 99 which is flared out at the underside thereof to form a sloping shelf 100. The shell D as it emerges fromthe tube B is guided around by the curved tubular portion 99 until thepoint thereof strikes a bumper 101 which is located in a nearlyrectangular bend 102 in the more remote end of the portion 99. Theshell, however, does not come to rest at this point owing to the slopeof the shelf which sustains it; but rolls or swivels downwardly, thebutt end moving through an arc of greater radius than the point of theshell until it ultimately comes to rest against the flange-like eX-tremity 103 of the portion 99. The shell may then be drawn end-wise outof the terminal as indicated by the shell shown in dotted lines anddesignated D.

1t is evident that if a succeeding shell D be delivered to the terminalbefore the preceding shell D has been removed therefrom, no harmfulcollision can result since shell D after it strikes the bumper 101 hasample time wherein to roll itself around against theflange- 103beforethe succeeding shell encounters this bumper. Thereafter the shellD will merely roll around in like manner until it comes to rest in theterminal substantially side by side with the preceding shell Df; and ifthe latter be withdrawn shell D will then roll down into the positionoccupied by the shell just removed.

Projecting inwardly from the inner extremity of the semi-tubular portion99 is a powder case bumper 104 which consistsV preferably of a cup. 105within which is a spring 106, the inner extremity of which bears againstthe head of a bolt 107 which projects through the bottom of the cup andthe extremity of which is shouldered and threaded for engagement with anut 108 which holds it firmly in position in the terminal casing. Theother extremity of the spring 106 bears against a suitable closure 109for the cup 105.; which closure is recessed to firmly hold the bumperproper 104 therein.

Bumpers 101 and 104 may be of any suitable material which is reasonablyresilient and which Should be adapted to withstand the rough usage towhich these parts are subjected. As best shown in Fig. 12 the bumper 104is disposed at a sufficient elevation within the terminal casing toenable a shell to pass freely thereunder; but since the powder cases areof greater diameter than the shells the forward extremity of the powdercase of each charge will encounter the bumper 104 and be therebysubstantially brought to rest; the case thereafter merely rolling downthe inclined shelf until it encounters a flange 110. To insure the endof the powder case striking fairly upon the bumper 104 the interior ofthe semi-tubular portion is ribbed as at 111; this rib holding thepowder cases out somewihat, away from the interior wall of the terminal,and bringing the centers of their forward ends nearly in alinement withthe center of the bumper 104. The pusher behind the charge also rollsdown the shelf and may be conveniently removed from the portion 112thereof at which the powder cases are withdrawn.

The shelf is preferably of suflicient width to permit of at least oneadditional powder case being delivered against the bumper 104 after apreceding case has come to rest against the flange 110.

It will hence be seen that by means of a terminal' having practically nomovable parts, if we disregard the bumper 104, the shells may beeffectively separated from their accompanying powder cases, while owingto the peculiar construction of the terminal, successive charges may bedelivered thereto and the shells and cases of such charges will beautomatically so positioned as to eliminate possible injury thereto bysucceeding charges.

In Figs. 13 14 and 15 I have shown a lau modification of this terminalwhich, like the former, comprises a semi-cylindrical portion 99 and ashelf 100'; the latter in the present instance being substantiallyhorizontal rather than inclined. In the former case gravity was dependedupon to cause the shells and powder cases to dispose themselves inpositions from whence they could be conveniently removed. In themodilied terminal, however, the shell passes out of the tube B andcontinues on, by its momentum, over the floor of the shelf and beneath ashoe 113, the function of which will be hereinafter referredA to.

As shown in Fig. 13, a short downward slope in the surface of theotherwise horizontal shelf, occurs between the points 114 and 115 andthe relatively slowly moving shell slides down this slope onto the flatportion 116 of the floor of the casing; the shell bringing up against abumper 117 and being conveniently positioned for removal through theopening 118 between the bumper 117 and a short `flange 119.

Again, in this case as in the former, the diiierence in diameter of theshell and powder case is taken advantage of to effect a separation ofone from the other, so that while the relatively small diametered andshort shell is able to pass freely through the terminal until it comesto rest against its bumper at the outer extremity thereof, therelatively long and somewhat larger diametered powder case cannot tiltaround the edge 114 to slide down the short incline, but remainshorizontally disposed upon the floor of the terminal and slips under theshoe 113; which latter frictionally engages the upper side of the powdercase until the forward end of said case impinges against a bumper 120. l

The under surface of the shoe 113 is arched and hence holds the powdercase against lateral displacement. This shoe is yieldingly mounted upona pair of arms 121; springs 122 being interposed'between the said armsand the heads of the bolts 123 which suspend the shoe from said arms.These arms are fixedly mounted upon a rock shaft 124 journaled insuitable brackets 125--125 upon the outside of the terminal casing; andkick-off arms 126, preferably integrally connected to the arms 121,extend downwardly and inwardly around the side of the casing asindicated in Fig. 15 so that the toes 127 of these members project intoapertures 128 in the rear wall of said casing, but normally not throughsaid apertures suiiieiently to impede the progress of a powder casetherepast. A crank 129 mounted upon the inner end of the rock shaft 124is connected by means of a link 130 with a foot lever or treadle 131pivoted to the casing as at 132,.

When it is desiredto remove a powder case from the casing, which ispreferably immediately after the arrival thereof, the operator pushesdown the treadle 131 with his foot and thereby rocks the shaft 124,

raising the shoe 113 from the powder case and simultaneously projectingthe toes 127 of the kick-0E levers through the apertures 123 and againstthe wall of the powder case, rolling it out of the path of travel of asucceeding case; the so displaced case coming to rest against the flange119 in position for removal from the terminal.

A compression spring 133 normally urges the kick-off arms toward theirouter position and this spring also serves to hold the shoe 113 in itscaseeengaging position. Downward movement of the shoe is limited by thestops 134, on the arms 121.

The shoe 113, it will be noted, prevents the powder case from bouncingofl" from the terminal shelf upon its arrival at the terminal andinsures the delivery of the case by the kick-off mechanism at a delinitepoint.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: j

1. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a transmission tubel providedwitha dispatching terminal, a tube through which a charge, comprising aprojectile of given dimensions and a mass of explosive material ofdifferent size from said projectile, may be conveyed, and a deliveryterminal having provisions for separating the projectile from saidexplosive material by said difference in size.

2. In a pneumatic ammunition rconveyer, a transmission tube providedwith a dispatching terminal, a tube through which a charge, comprising aprojectile of given dimensions and a mass of explosive material ofdifferent size from said projectile, may be conveyed, and a deliveryterminal having provisions for separatingv thev projectile from saidexplosive material by said dilference in size, said separatingprovisions acting substantially independently of differences in weightof the parts separated.

3. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer,

a transmission tube provided with a dispatching terminal, ka tubethrough which a charge, comprising a projectile of smaller Amass ofexplosive material of larger diameter than said projectile, may beconveyed,

and a delivery terminal having substantially stationary provisions forseparating the projectile from said explosive material by saiddifference in diameters thereof.

5. In a pneumatioammunition conveyer, a transmission tube provided witha dispatching terminal, a tube through which a charge, comprising aprojectile and a mass of explosive material, may be conveyed, a pusheror piston, against Which pneumatic pressure is exerted, to propel saidcharge through the tube, and a delivery terminal having bumpers forseparately stopping the projectile and explosive material at differentpoints in said terminal, said projectile traversing a. longer pathbefore encountering its bumper, after emerging from the tube, than saidexplosive material.

6. In al pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a transmission tube providedwith a dispatching terminal, a tube through which a charge, comprising aprojectile and a mass of explosive material, may be conveyed, a pusheror piston, against Which pneumatic pressure is exerted, to propel saidcharge through the tube, and a delivery terminal having bumpers forseparately stopping the projectile and explosive material at differentpoints in said terminal, said projectile traversing a longer path beforeencounteringv its bumper, after emerging from the tube, than saidexplosive material, said delivery terminal having a curved surface forswerving said projectile toward its bumper.

7. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a transmission tube provided Witha dispatching terminal, a tube through which a charge, comprising aprojectile and a mass of explosive material, may be conveyed, a pusheror piston, against which pneumatic pressure is exerted, to propel saidcharge through the tube, and a delivery terminal having bumpers atdifferent levels for separately stopping the projectile and explosivematerial, the bumper for said material being located above the path ofsaid projectile through said terminal.

S. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a transmission tube provided Witha dispatching terminal, a tube through which a charge, comprising aprojectile and a mass of explosive n aterial. may be conveyed, a pusheror piston, against which pneumatic pressure is exerted, to propel saidcharge through the tube, and a delivery terminal having provisions forseparating, according to size, the said projectile and mass of eX-plosive material.

9. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a transmission tube provided witha dispatching terminal, a tube through which a charge. comprising aprojectile and a mass of explosive material, may be conveyed, and adelivery terminal having a shelf of Width sulicient to permit of theemplacement thereon of a plurality of charges and provisions forseparating the component parts of said charges, whereby the projectilesmay be collected upon one portion of said shelf and the explosivematerial on another portion thereof.

10. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a transmission tube providedWith a dispatching terminal, a tube through which a charge, comprising aprojectile and a mass of explosive material, may be conveyed, and adelivery terminal having provisions for separately rolling the saidparts of a charge out of the path of a succeeding charge.

11. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a transmission tube providedwith a dispatching terminal, a tube through which a charge, comprising aprojectile and a mass of explosive material, may be conveyed, and adelivery terminal having means for separately stopping the projectileand explosive material and provisions for automatically removing one atleast of said parts of the charge from its stopping means.

1Q. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a transmission tube providedWith a dispatching terminal, a tube through which a charge, comprising aprojectile and a mass of explosive material, may be conveyed, and adelivery terminal having provisions for swiveling one end of one of theparts of a charge laterally out of the path of the like part of asucceeding charge.

13. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a transmission tube providedwith a dispatching terminal, a tube through which a charge, comprising aprojectile and a mass of explosive material, may be conveyed, and

delivery terminal having provisions for positioning side by sidecorresponding parts of a plurality of charges successively delivered tosaid delivery terminal.

14. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a transmission tube providedivith a dispatching terminal, a` tube through which a charge, comprisinga projectile and a mass of explosive material, may be conveyed, and adelivery terminal having provisions for positioning side by side allcorresponding parts of a plurality of charges successively delivered tosaid delivery terminal.

15. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a transmission tube providedwith a dispatching terminal, a tube through which a charge, comprising aprojectile and a mass of explosive material, may be conveyed, and adelivery terminal having means for supporting the component parts of aplurality of charges and provisions for asserting and disposing saidparts separately upon said supporting means.

16. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a transmission tube ju'ovidodwith a dispatching terminal, a tube through which a charge, comprising aprojectile and a mass of yexplosive material, may be conveyed, and adelivery terminal having means for supporting the component parts of acharge substantially out of the path of a succeeding charge andprovisions for asserting said parts and separately disposing them uponsaid supporting means.

17. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a transmission tube providedWith a dispatching terminal, a tube 'through which a charge, comprisinga projectile and a mass of explosive material, may be conveyed, adelivery terminal adapted to separately arrest the component parts ofsaid charge, means for creating a charge-transmitting flow of airthrough said tube, said tube having a bend therein, and means forreducing the speed of the charge When traversing said bend. l

18. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a transmission tube providedWith a dis patching terminal, a tube through which a charge, comprisinga projectile and a mass of explosive material, may be conveyed, adelivery terminal adapted to separately arrest the component parts ofsaid charge, means for creating a charge-transmitting flouT of airthrough said tube, said tube having a bend therein, and means forreducing the speed of the charge When traversing said bend, said lastmentioned means having provisions for regulating said speed.

19. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer,

a transmission tube provided With aV dispatching terminal, a tubethrough which a charge, comprising a projectile and a mass of explosivematerial, may be conveyed, a delivery terminal adapted to separatelyarrest the component parts of said charge, means for creating a chargetransmitting flow of air through said tube, said tube having a bendtherein, and means including a by-pass for reducing the speed of thecharge when traversing said bend.

20. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a delivery terminal adapted toreceive and hold a plurality of charges each consisting of a projectileand explosive material therefor, a tube for conveying said charges tosaid delivery terminal, a dispatching terminal for introducing chargesinto said tube, means for insuring a proper spacing of chargestraversing said tube at the same time, and pushers distinct from saidcharges and adapted to be driven through said tube by air pressure, forpropelling the charges.

21. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a delivery terminal adapted toreceive and hold portions at least of charges each consisting of aprojectile and explosive material therefor, a tube for conveying saidcharges to said delivery terminal, a despatching terminal having acover, means for actuating l said cover, and means for controlling saidcover-'actuated means, said controlling means being subject to themovement of a charge through said tube avvay from said despatchingterminal and includ` ing an operative connection at a point along thelength of the tube a determined distance from said despatching terminal,said controlling means also having a locking part adapted to be movedinto its unlocking position only after a despatched charge has passedsaid point.

22. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a delivery terminal adapted toreceive charges each consisting of a projectile and explosive materialtherefor, a tube for conveying said charges to said delivery terminal, apusher for propelling a charge through said tube and a despatchingterminal having means for rendering it operative and provided With apart adapted for movement into the path of said pusher, said part Whenso positioned being out of the path of the charge pro# pelled by saidpusher and adapted to prevent effective actuation of said means.

23. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a delivery terminal adapted toreceive charges each consisting of a projectile and explosive materialtherefor, a tube for conveying said' charges to said delivery' terminal,a pusher for propelling a charge through said tube and a despatchingterminal having means for rendering it operative and provided With apart adapted for movement into the path of said pusher, said part Whenso positioned being out of the path of the charge propelled by saidpusher and adapted to prevent effective actuation of said means, saidmeans When operated co-acting with said part to position the latter inthe path of the pusher preparatory to its displacement therefrom by saidpusher.

2,4. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a transmission tube, adespatching terminal therefor, a pusher for propelling charges throughsaid tube ahead of said pusher, said charges being of less diameter thansaid pusher, and means, a part of Which is substantially in the path ofsaid pusher While the latter is traversing said tube, for controllingsaid terminal to prevent a re-actuation thereof until said pusherreaches said part, said charges being adapted to operatively clear saidpart, whereby the pusher alone actuates the latter.

25. In a pneumatic conveyer, a delivery terminal, a transmission tubenormally freely open at said delivery terminal, a despatching terminalhaving a cover and mechanism for closing the entrance to said tubeseparately from said cover, and controlling devices for said despatchingterminal cover and tube closing mechanism, comprising means forpreventing re-actu ation of said mechanism after the entrance of acharge into said tube until said charge vhas traversed a determinedportion thereof,

said portion being less than the entire length of the tube, ,and saidcover permitting of the emplacement of a second charge in said terminalWhile the first charge is traversing said portion of said tube.

26. In a pneumatic conveyer, a delivery terminal, a transmission tubethrough which a current of air normally flows, a despatching terminalhaving mechanism for directing said current of air therethrough for thedespatch of a charge, and means for limiting the flow of said current ofair-through said despatching terminal to a substantially determinedperiod of time after said charge emerges therefrom, said currentthereafter resuming its normal course. v

27. In a pneumatic ammunition conveyer, a despatching terminal, atransmission tube, a source of low pressure air for propelling chargesof ammunition through said tube, an operating mechanism for saidterminal, a source of high pressure fluid for actuating said mechanism,and means for controlling said 'high pressure fluid and thereby saidmechanism, said operating mechanism including a part, actuable by saidhigh pressure fluid, for controlling the flow of said low pressure airthrough said terminal.

28. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, a despatching terminal, atransmission tube, and means for controlling the despatch of a body ofmaterial to be transmitted from said terminal, said means includingmechanism for preventing the despatch of a succeeding body of materialuntil the preceding 'material has traversed the transmission tube adetermined distance, and auxiliary mechanism for preventing actuation ofsaid means in any oase until a charge being despatched has left saidterminal.

29. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, a transmission tube, adespatching terminal having means for closing the entrance to said tube,mechanism for rendering said terminal operative for the despatch of abody of material to be transmitted through said tube and forinoperatively positioning said tube-closing means, said mechanism havingprovisions for preventing a re-actuation thereof, after being onceoperated, until the despatch material has passed said tube-closingmeans, and means-for preventing a reactuation of said mechanism untilafter the lapse of a substantially determined period subsequent to thedespatch of a preceding body of material.

30. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, a transmission tube, adespatching terminal having means for closing the entrance to said tube,mechanism for rendering said terminal operative for the despatch of abody of material to be transmitted through said tube and forinoperatively positioning said tube-closing means, said mechanism havingprovisions for preventing a re-actuation thereof, after being onceoperated, until the despatched material has passed said tubeclosingmeans, and pneumatically controlled means for preventing a re-actuationof said mechanism until after the lapse of a substantially determinedperiod subsequent to the1 despatch of a preceding body of materia 31. Ina pneumatic despatch apparatus, a despatching terminal, a transmissiontube, mechanism for rendering said terminal operative for the despatchof material to be transmitted, controlling means for said mechanism, latransmitting member adapted tocarry said material through said tube anda locking device for said controlling means having operative connectionsWith said tube and adapted to be rendered operative by the passage ofsaid transmitting member past a determined point in said tube and tobecome inoperative after the passage of said member past a second pointin said tube.

32. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, a delivery terminal, adespatching terminal, a transmission tube lconnecting said terminals,mechanism for rendering said despatching terminal operative for thedespatch of material, controlling means for said mechanism, atransmitting member adapted to carry` said material through said tube,and a latch for locking a part of said controlling means in position tomaintain the parts of said despatching terminal in the positions intoWhich they Were moved when despatching said member, said latch adaptedto be tripped by said transmitting member as the latter is propelledtoward said delivery terminal.

83. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, a transmission tube, adespatching terminal therefor having a valve for controlling the flow ofair through said terminal, a transmitting member adapted to carrymaterial through said tube, and power actuated mechanism for controllingthe movements of said valve, said mechanism having a controlling part, aplurality of looking members for said part and provisions for separatelyactuating said locking members by the passage of said transmittingmember past successive spaced points in said tube.

34. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, a transmission tube, adespatching terminal having a cover and a gate adapted to close theentrance to said tube, mechanism for opening and closing said cover,said mechanism including toggle connections to said cover adapted tolock the same closed, and means for automatically opening said gateafter said cover has been substantially closed by its said connections.

35. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, a transmission tube, adespatching terminal having a gate adapted to close the entrance to saidtube, mechanism for opening said a transmitting member adapted to carrymaterial through said tube, meanscontrolled by said member for settingsaid mechanism to close said gate, and means, alsov controlled by saidmember, for normally preventing the Vre-opening of said gate by saidmechanism until said member has traveled a determined distance throughsaid tube. v

36. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, a transmission tube, adespatching terminal having a cover and agate adapted to close theentrance tov said tube, said coverbeing normally open and said gateclosed, -mech anism for closing said cover and opening said'gate, atransmitting member adapted to carry material through said tube, Vandmeans controlled by said member for setting said mechanism to 'closesaid gate and reopen said cover after the despatch of said member. Y

37. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, a

transmission tube, a despatohing terminaly Y having a cover and a gate'adapted to closeV the entrance to said tube, said coverV being normallyopen and said gate closed, mechanism for closing said4 cover and openingsaid gate, a transmitting member adapted Copies of this patent may beobtained for ve rrcents each, by addressingthe Washington, D. G.

to carry material through said tube, means Ycontrolled by said memberfor setting said mechanism to close said gate and re-open said coverafter the despatch of said member, and means, also controlled by saidmem-V ber, for normally preventing the despatch of a second of saidtransmitting members from said terminal until after the rst'member has`traveled a determined distance through said tube.

38. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, a despatching terminal, atransmission tube, power actuated mechanism for operatively displacing apart of said terminal 'for the despatch offcarriers'there-rom, saidmechanism having a controlling part, means, operable bypneumaticpressure in a part of said tube, for lockingsaid controllingpart against movement, and co-acting means,rop

erable by pneumatic pressure in another part of said tube forV releasingsaid controlling part. v

signature, in the lpresence of two witnesses.

' JAMES T. COWIJEY.

Witnesses: 1

C. S. JENNINGS,

' Commissioner of Patents.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my`

